Hunger is a brand new thriller drama that premiered on April 8, 2023, on Netflix. Directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and written by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, the plot of the movie follows a passionate young chef and her turbulent journey towards achieving her dreams. The movie stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying in the lead role alongside Nopachai Chaiyanam.
Produced by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee and Soros Sukhum, the film has an approximate runtime of 155 minutes.
-Hunger Review Contains No Spoilers-
The movie follows a similar plot to a classic overbearing and obsessed master with an overtly passionate student, along with strong elements of society’s class divide. If the recent hit The Menu and the Oscar-winning movie, Whiplash had a love child, this would be it. From off-beat and uncomfortable sequences to some emotional bits, the plot is thought-provoking and highly relatable.
No time is wasted in introducing us to the main characters and setting a premise showcasing the staggering difference between both worlds. Aoy, who runs a small restaurant as a chef passed down by her father, is frustrated with life. She questions her life choices every day until she is given an opportunity to follow her dreams. Tone, a junior sous chef working for renowned Chef Paul, sees her potential at one look and requests her to showcase her talents to the world.
Instantly an indiscreet image of the young woman is drawn. In the beginning, she has a carefree personality and clearly does not take herself seriously. She visits the celebrity Chef with shabby clothes and shoes, which clearly meant that she is not there to impress. However, she soon realises the importance that a single meeting holds and brings out her A-game. Apart from being a fast learner, she is incredibly passionate, with a distinct quench for people’s approval. “I want to be special”, that is what she said upon asking why she wanted to become a Chef.
On the other hand, Chef Paul has a powerful presence with a rigid personality. He is unforgiving and brutally honest like any other top Chefs. He accepts nothing but perfection from his team and can go to extreme lengths to achieve it. With a cold demeanour and no empathy for anyone around him, he has an eye for recognising potential. However, if things do not go his way, it takes no time for him to drop people, even the ones he has known for years. Nevertheless, his bossy personality becomes the major reason for his downfall.
A drastic change to Aoy’s personality and worldview is shown seamlessly. She becomes the very thing that she walked away from without even realising. Consumed by the riches and fame, she loses herself amongst the glitz and glamour. Temporarily, she forgets her roots and validation from the customers becomes her top priority.
Besides the solid plot, the camera work and cinematography are the major exceptional aspect of the storytelling process. Certain scenes contain suggestive images that showcased the innate nature of human beings. Including eerie sequences to display raw emotions set an unconventional and eccentric tone that often made me uncomfortable, but it was a glorious spectacle to witness. Additionally, a distinct commentary is made throughout the movie about the existing class divide that only a certain section of society benefits from. But even so, the line between the rich and the poor is often blurred, forcing us to view some situations from a different perspective.
It would be a grave mistake not to mention the marvellous performance given by Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying. She portrayed the role so convincingly that it often feels like watching someone’s real-life story. Nopachai Chaiyanam also stood out with his excellent delivery and maintained the ruthlessness in his character throughout. They complimented each other very well on-screen and made the job seem effortless.
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Hunger Review: Final Thoughts
The duration of the movie might scare some, but it is worth the time. It contains every element of a modern horror story that is scarier than any monster. The haunting story of a hungry student and a controlling teacher is extremely impactful and will stay with one for days.
Hunger is now streaming on Netflix. Did you watch the movie yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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